Posted on 02/25/2006 8:35:04 AM PST by M203M4
Last Updated Wed, 22 Feb 2006 17:51:11 EST
B.C. health officials are investigating after a woman died alone two days after being forcibly separated from her husband of 70 years, despite the family's pleas that she be allowed to spend her remaining time with him.
Fanny Albo, 91, and her husband Al had both been in the acute care unit of Kootenay Boundary Regional Hospital in Trail, a city in southeastern B.C. about nine kilometres north of the border with the United States.
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"They brought her in on the gurney. They said, 'Say goodbye to your wife.'" - Son Jim Albo.
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On Feb. 17, despite her family's wishes, hospital staff moved Albo more than 100 kilometres away to a long-term care facility in Grand Forks.
Albo, who was from the town of Rossland, died alone only 48 hours later.
Her son, Jim Albo, told CBC News Tuesday night that it was obvious that his ailing mother did not have long to live.
He said he repeatedly asked health authorities to let her spend her final days near her 97-year-old husband, but the requests fell on deaf ears.
"There was no compassion from them whatsoever. They were playing a numbers game, and that's the way it was," he said.
The provincial health minister has ordered an investigation to find out why the Albos were not allowed to spend their last days together.
'My poor dad never had time to really even hold my mother's hand'
His parents were not even allowed to say their goodbyes properly, he said.
"They brought her in on the gurney. They said, 'Say goodbye to your wife.'
"My poor dad never had time to really even hold my mother's hand or to cuddle with her or not even a private moment together, and they turned around and wheeled her out the door. And my poor father just absolutely broke down."
Albo said his father had yet to receive any apology from those responsible for taking his wife away.
Health authority defends relocation policy
Murray Ramsden, who heads the region's health authority, said the woman's transfer was ordered under a provincial Health Ministry rule.
The policy states that a person who needs long-term residential care will be moved to the first available bed, even if it is not at the preferred facility.
"However, saying that, there always has to be a clinical judgment in these cases, and we have to be very sensitive to the individual circumstances," said Ramsden, chief executive officer for the Interior Health Authority.
Same type of reasoning my grandmother was denied rehabilitation for her stroke (in Canada) - government rules
Health care with all the compassion and efficiency of the post office.
What an ignorant pack of SonsofBeaches.
Not a brain in any head in the hospital.
Great example of Hillarycare....
One of the things that has been introduced into the medical school curriculum is the idea of "utilitarianism." That is, you have to use the resources for the greater good of society, not just for the immediate benefit of your patient. The Hippocratic oath (which cited abortion as immoral, etc) has also been expunged from medical schools and replaced with a new age wishy washy oath that lets you pretty much do whatever you want as long as you don't do anything offensive to those on the left.
After our white coat ceremony where we took this new age oath, a group of 12 of us in an on campus club got together and took the oath of Hipoocrates privately. But that makes about 5% of our class that has pledged allegiance to the principles set forth by the father of medicine.
Ooooh.
Somebody is so gonna be placed on paid leave.
We need to export some South Texas tort lawyers to Canada.
Cold hearted Canadians...Government health care, perfect match.
Soylent Green moment.
TWO DAYS is considered "long term care"???????
What the hell do they term "SHORT TERM"?????
In two days, the paperwork of the transfer wouldn't even be done.
As for the post office, I am lucky to live in a very small town, where the ladies at the post office are very pleasant, and they know most of the customers.
When the 2 cents increase was approaching, and I had lots of 37 cents stamps on hand, I went to buy 2 cent stamps. The lady actually had 2 penny stamps on hand, but they wouldn't scan on the computer, and the message on her machine said she couldn't sell those stamps, because they wouldn't scan. The stamps were legal, but she couldn't sell them. She said she would have to send them back to the post office headquarters. I had to buy twice as many 1 penny stamps instead, and she was more than embarrassed.
"After our white coat ceremony where we took this new age oath, a group of 12 of us in an on campus club got together and took the oath of Hipoocrates privately."
Oh excellent, excellent. Good for you and your classmates for doing this. I fully appreciate the importance of what you did, thank you very much.
This is very sad. God bless them both.
This is why hospice is such a better way to handle end of life scenarios. Once you get into a medical facility in any country, you're decision making abilities are hindered. Here as well.
Sorry. I would have released BOTH OF THEM from the hospital, took them home and they could have died together. There is NO WAY I could have stood by and allowed some hospital to determine their goodbyes. I would rather see them die together whether it be on the ride home or at home.
Unfortunately I have some really boneheaded postal workers I have to deal with. The postman who delivers the mail to the mailboxes in my office building is only at the mail room for 20 minutes every day. If we have a package that is bigger than our box, they put a notice in the mailbox to pick it up at the mail room. Of course if nobody is there during those 20 minutes when the mail room is open, we have to wait another day to receive the package even if it is priority mail. I have made requests at least a dozen times at the post office just two blocks away that any packages adressed to our suite be taken back to the post office where it can be picked up any time during normal buisiness hours. Every time we get a new mail man who delivers to the building, I have to make a new request at least twice.
Sounds like govt health care to me.
"We're going to take things away from you..." And your dying wife of 70 years, too.
And none dare call it conspiracy---but maybe next year they will. Sad, but I expect one day soon, taking that oath will be illegal.
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